The BareStory
A House Homeland Security Committee hearing on worldwide threats was marked by interruptions and a contentious exchange on Thursday. The hearing, held in Washington, featured testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. It was disrupted on multiple occasions by protesters during the secretary's opening statement.
The committee's ranking member, Rep. Bennie Thompson, used his opening statement to call for Secretary Noem's resignation, accusing her of making America less safe. A sharp disagreement later arose between them over a Thanksgiving Eve shooting involving an Afghan refugee and two National Guardsmen. Rep. Thompson called the incident an "unfortunate accident," while Noem described it as a "terrorist attack." The two also disputed which administration's policies led to the refugee's entry into the U.S., with Thompson suggesting the possibility of perjury charges against Noem during the exchange.
The protesters, who were escorted out by Capitol Police, shouted slogans against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the interruptions, Noem proceeded with her testimony, stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was working to end illegal immigration, stop deadly drugs, and eradicate transnational organized crime. She also warned of heightened security risks for major events scheduled in 2026.
The confrontation between Thompson and Noem was briefly interrupted when another representative, Andy Ogles IV, shouted at Thompson, leading the committee chairman to rule the comments out of order. The hearing took place amid what one summary described as rumors that President Donald Trump was considering replacing Noem. According to one account, President Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Noem has been "fantastic," while Noem herself reportedly called the rumors "absolutely not true."
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The public may see increased security measures at major events in 2026, as the DHS Secretary has warned of heightened security risks.
• The conflict over DHS leadership, including a call for resignation and perjury accusations, creates uncertainty about the department’s stability and direction on national security.
• Official disagreement over defining violent acts as "terrorism" versus "accidents" could influence future policy responses and public understanding of security threats.
